Job Postings

Hidden jobs are welcomed for sharing at
jobs@augustgroup.org.
If the job your neighbor, friend or family shared with you is not right for you, it might be perfect for an August Group colleague.
This is a great place for practicing "give to get." With 1600 members, what can happen here when members own the content?

We welcome volunteers to coordinate the job postings on a weekly basis.
Employers and members submit jobs that must be readied for inclusion in the
newsletter. A lack of help means fewer jobs get posted in a timely manner.
Why not be the first one to see new postings.

The August Group remains a resource for the news media in Rochester.

Greg Taylor (aka Sir Linksalot) was recently featured in this article.

Weekly Columns

Relationship Management

by Anne Baber & Lynne Waymon

Contributed by Sue Schnorr, President, of Training Insights, Inc.

"You gotta have Hart" heralds the newsletter from Leadership Dynamics in
Lafayette, Colorado. That slogan is the only "marketing" in President Lois
Hart's information-packed, bimonthly newsletter. "It's my best way to stay
in touch with past and potential clients, friends, and key influential's,
who contribute to my success," she says.

By systematically staying in touch, Hart is practicing relationship
management. Rather than taking a haphazard, scattershot approach to
cultivating contacts, Hart has a plan. She uses her newsletter to
proactively build and refresh business connections.

Unfortunately, few people - - and even fewer organizations - - understand
how the daily work of building business relationships can result in the
achievement of overall, long -term strategic goals. Carefully managing the
quality and frequency of your contacts can bring in more referrals, increase
repeat business, and provide access to "hot" information on business trends
and resources. If your networking is not working, if you hand our your
business card to dozens of people at Chamber of Commerce events, but nothing
ever comes of your efforts, use relationship management to develop and
re-connect with strategically placed contacts who can help your business
succeed and whom you can help in return.

Target Your Contacts

"If everybody's your client, then nobody's your client," warns Samuel Maitz,
marketing director for Leadership Management, Inc. of Waco, Texas. "We
research the issues and get to know the industry before approaching the
movers and shakers." Goal-setting is essential. Jessica Lipnack, coauthor of
The Team-Net Factor (Wight Publications), points out the importance of
building strategic alliances that are in concert with organizational goals.
"If the purpose is clear, then all else will follow," she says. "If the
purpose is murky, then the relationship will flounder."

"We are very conscious of the need to cultivate contacts in our industry,"
says Edwin Corbin, assistant to executive management with Irwin Financial
Corporation in Columbus, Indiana. "But the process starts long before we go
out and meet people. First, we analyze our past successes and set goals. For
example, if we want to study a new line of business to look for possible
acquisitions, our executives get together. We pool all our existing contacts
and also look at who they could introduce us to," he says.

Ask yourself, "Who has given me the most amount of business in the least
amount of time with the least resistance and the most profit?" advises
Dennis Fox, president of the Client Development Institute in Reston,
Virginia. Fox conducts customized workshops for sales executives on how to
systematically cultivate referrals.

One clever way to target customers is to start a referral club. Choose four
or five business people, whose reputations you trust, who are in non -
competing businesses, and who focus on the same customer base you do. Get to
know each other well, so you feel comfortable making referrals. A florist,
for example, might team up with a caterer, a photographer, a bridal
consultant, and a wedding cake baker.

Or set up a larger, more diverse group whose purpose is to use each others'
services and products and to exchange leads. Dennis Riley, president of
Alarm Data a commercial and residential alarm company in Beltsville,
Maryland, has created nine clubs. One of his salespeople is a member of each
group. "We keep the focus on building business relationships." he says.
"With 20 other business people in the room, you're bound to make three or
four good contacts each week."

Trust Is the Baseline

"You don't sell only what you make. You sell who you are," reminds Faith
Popcorn, author of The Popcorn Report (Doubleday). Trust is built by
exhibiting character and competence over time, not by making random contacts
at networking events.

Sam Visner, Booz-Allen & Hamilton's program manager for the Department of
Defense's Mentor Protégé Program, recommends two ways to create trust.
"First, describe what you do in a way that highlights the benefit. The fact
that you have a master's degree in engineering is not what we want to hear.
But how you have used it, what you have done with it, how you are unique, is
of interest to us when we go looking for business partnering relationships,"
he says. Second, Visner says be ready to describe an opportunity you've
researched that can be jointly pursued. "Do your homework. Bring something -
- an idea , an angle, an opportunity - - to the table, in addition to your
capabilities. People stay in contact only if the contact is productive, so
have an agenda when you approach people."

Lipnack, whose consulting company specializes in organizational networks,
suggests visiting each other's offices as a way to build trust. "The most
successful and creative networking relationships are the results of taking
the time to set up good communication links," she says. When two companies
begin to make referrals or do any kind of partnering, it's not just the
executives who need to be involved, she cautions. "Make sure the secretaries
know each other, too."

Focus on giving. "If you give you get, but not always where you gave,"
reminds Maitz. Giving invites reciprocity. If you give, people will try to
pay you back. Jay Levinson, author of Guerrilla Marketing Excellence
(Houghton-Mifflin), says, "Networking is not the time to toot your own
trombone, but to ask questions, listen attentively to the answers, and keep
your marketing radar attuned to the presence of problems." When you discover
a problem, give ideas, resources, and information. In return, the people you
have helped will help you. It's human nature at its best.

Teach Each Other

Teach people about yourself and your product or service. When it comes to
introductions, be prepared to be spontaneous. Plan ahead how you'll answer
the oft-asked question, "What do you do?" JoAnn Smith, president of Advanced
Target Marketing Group in Gaithersburg, Maryland, omits her title and
company name in favor of giving an introduction that exhibits her competence
and lets people know that she goes the extra mile for her clients. She says,
"I track down customers. Recently, I found a very hard-to-get, but amazingly
responsive, mailing list for a client who wanted to reach high-income
customers."

Be visible. Take an active role in a civic, professional or industry group.
Contribute your time and talent. Become known as someone who can be counted
on. Demonstrate your expertise. Your stellar performance as program chair,
will convince people that you also are someone they want to do business
with. And don't forget to put as much effort into learning about your
contacts as you do into teaching them about yourself.

Track the Trends

One thing all business people worry about is the future. It's an unknown.
But you can find the future through your relationships with knowledgeable
people. "The future is out there in the world, and the one place you won't
find it is in the place where most people look for it," says Trendtracker
Faith Popcorn. "It's not in your office."

To increase your exposure to new ideas, get to know a variety of people
inside your organization and industry and outside. Create your own "Board of
Trustees" and meet every fourth Friday for lunch. Or start an Executive
Roundtable -- invite people in adjacent or far-flung industries to meet and
discuss what's coming down the pike. Look for innovative ideas from other
business settings that you can put to good use immediately.

Go beyond networking. Build your business relationships strategically and
systematically. The acquaintances you make today can develop into your
closest business allies tomorrow.

Your Relationship Management Plan

To create your plan, answer these questions:

What strategic business and career goals will be easier to achieve if I
create a relationship management plan now?

What relationships have brought me the best results in the past? What has
been the pattern of development in those relationships? How can I replicate
this pattern?

Whom do I need to know to stay informed in my industry? What behaviors do I
need to practice to build trust with key contacts? Which social media should
I use? What organizational and personal resources and ideas do I have to
give as I develop business connections?

Anne Baber and Lynne Waymon are principals of Contacts Count, a nationwide
consulting and training firm that specializes in business and professional
networking, and career development. They are co-authors of six books. The
most recent is Make Your Contacts Count: Networking Know-How for Business
and Career Success (2007, AMACOM). Fortune 500 companies license their
training programs. Visit them at
www.ContactsCount.com and
www.FireProofYourCareer.com.

Sue is a sought-after speaker offering keynotes, training workshops,
webinars and coaching sessions. She collaborates with the authors of Make Your Contacts Count as the exclusive Certified Contacts Count Associate in
Upstate New York. She can be reached at 585-442-3443 or sue@training-insights.com.

Using LinkedIn - Taking Advantage of Groups

LinkedIn introduced Groups in early 2008 and they've been adding
functionality ever since. Few members have enjoyed great value in LinkedIn
Groups and that's been a matter of education or the lack thereof. Sad to
say, that signing up and hoping yields no value, none, absolutely nothing.
Again, you get out of something what you put into it and the same is true
with groups. So, if you are complaining that LinkedIn provides very little
value to you as a member when you join a group, change your mindset. Become
a contributor to the groups you belong to and watch what happens. How might
you do that?

Messaging - The initial and most valued benefit of joining a group is
that you can send a message to all other group members and communicate. You
need not be connected to them nor know their email address. (It is advisable
that you send a message before sending a stranger an invitation to connect.)
You join the group to engage with others of a similar interest. This is a
networking site and networking revolves around communication. So review the
profiles of new members and send them a welcoming message. It's always great
to ask a question to engage a response. Relationships are developed and
maintained by communication. The LinkedIn mantra is "Relationships Matter."

Discussions - They are online chats where all members are invited to
discuss topics and issues relevant to the group. If you find a discussion of
interest, you can "follow" it. Member comments will be emailed to you
automatically, if you choose. If you find nothing of interest, start a
discussion that you believe will be of interest to members in the group. The
August Group is about professional networking so discussions of interest
might include economic development, career management, networking tips, job
search lessons learned, and such. Be on topic and engaging. What's happening
with Time Warner billing policies is NOT on topic nor are discussions about
the Midtown Clock. They are worthy of discussion within other groups.

Ask a question or solicit opinions. We all have opinions so engage in
others' discussions sharing your two cents. So very few members participate
in any discussions. There is value to be had and surprisingly relationships
develop online as as result of discussions. It's networking. When people
post topics for discussion and get no feedback, they stop posting.

Add... Contribute... Benefit...

News - You can share news and articles by posting their URL's and
then can engage in discussion on those articles with other members.
Discussions generally engage like-minded and dissenters. From these
discussions good networkers would be advised to reach out and request an
opportunity to meet and share a brew of coffee or ale.

Jobs - Here obviously you can share jobs of interest. Make sure they
are relevant to the group you are engaged with. Post local jobs to groups
that have a local orientation. Post jobs in an industry in groups that focus
on the industry. A medical device job posted in a journalism group misses
the audience.

Updates - Browse this tab to review who is a new member. Send them a
welcoming message as suggested above. You'll also note prior days', weeks'
activities within the group and who is contributing to the group. Engage
with them. They are active, responsive and contributors.

Members - Browse the directory of the members and see who might be
make a good connection for you. In browsing others' profiles you might learn
how others craft their profiles. You may discover other members, groups or
employers you wish to connect with. Browse, learn and connect.

Again, share your thoughts, add value and contribute. While LinkedIn might
"be free," you get out of this what you put into it. Add value. Get value.

Greg is the Founder of The August Group, a recruiter and entrepreneur
offering a myriad for services to employers and professionals including
coaching and consulting. He can be reached at 585-785-8600 or
gtaylor@excelsiorsp.com

Move forward, change and human rules about change, no one is perfect
but there are devils in this world.

The two way street on the journey!

Continuing your success is evolutionary!

Contributed by Greg Taylor

In February we offered for the first time a book discussion group that met
twice a week over breakfast. The plan was to read two chapters for each
session and to complete the book in three weeks. The book discussed was
Ask The Headhunter by Nick Corcodilos. The group continued for a month
not wanting to rush the material and the sessions never ended before 90
minutes. In the process the group supported each other adopting the wisdoms
learned in the book. The group continues to meet on a monthly basis for
breakfast staying in touch and recalling parts of the book that may be less
easily implemented.

Based upon the success of this program we'll continue to offer book
discussions as a way to expand one's thinking and get different
perspectives. These discussions will be conducted at hours that permit both
working and job seeking professionals to attend. Anyone can read a book
alone. Discussion enhances one's understanding, missed points and in the end
you build relationships with others in the group. The August Group offers
more than contacts in general sessions. We provide opportunities to build
relationships.

There is a fee for engaging in these programs. These programs are hosted at
The Bagel Bin in appreciation of the contributions they have made to the
group since 2002. A meal is provided with each meeting. All excess proceeds
are contributed to The August Group by Excelsior Search Partners the sponsor
of this initiative.

Current offerings include:

It is suggested that you might review these books at the public library or
visit Amazon.com for reviews and purchase. Perhaps August Group members will
build a library of books to be shared at The Bagel Bin addressing career,
and professional networking.

Ask The Headhunter

By Nick CorcodilosThe lessons learned are contradictory to conventional job search
strategies offered by most career advisors, typically HR professionals. Mr.
Corcodilos, as a headhunter, makes his living knowing how hiring happens.
His approach is very contested by HR professionals who he dismisses as
irrelevant in the process of getting the job. He grants that HR
professionals are key contacts to be honored when pursuing a job in HR only.
He widely dismisses most career advice offered in books and media by HR
professionals.

He asserts that ideally you send one resume to secure one interview to
obtain a job offer that you will accept, negotiate or decline. His insights
and recommendations with regards to interviewing are certainly radical. When
executed with confidence they prove highly effective. You never send a
resume to a job board posting or company posting. Your resume is always
presented to the hiring manager by a sponsor. It's hard work. Fewer resumes
submitted, more effective results. It's game-changing.

His approach is unique, effective and unconventional. If the conventional
advice your following is not working for you, this radical approach might be
the difference making ticket. NOTE: no one dropped out of the book
discussion and all want to remain in touch and all praise the book as
thought changing. Visit his website to learn more
www.AskTheHeadHunter.com.

The Now Habit

By Neil Fiore, Ph.D.

Ever find it a challenge to get things done? Does your free time find you
sometimes feeling guilty knowing you have things to get done. You're like
everyone else. We all procrastinate. Maybe your job search finds you
avoiding and procrastinating action. Can you afford to continue delaying the
satisfaction you desire.

This book is unlike all other books written to address this human frailty.
It's not written by a time management guru or some get organized freak. This
is written by a psychologist who studied his own personal behaviors and that
of others. He has studied it as a science. The questions he asks - Why do we
procrastinate and how do we procrastinate. When you note your own behaviors
and become aware of your motivations you'll be able to develop a program
that will far surpass time management system or get organized program.

Recommended Reads

Few people are lucky to find work they truly enjoy where they lose track of
time while being so engaged and make money. Some in career transition find
themselves stuck not really knowing what they want. I have met many who want
something more in their next job. You can't easily ask for assistance from
others when you're not sure what help and connections you wish. If you've
not yet achieved what you wish in your life this book, in my humble opinion,
is different from all other similar books.

When one is "in their element" Robinson suggests they have engaged fully
their gift or aptitude (I Get It) with their passion (I Love It) where the
conditions of attitude (I Want It) and opportunity (Where Is It?) come
together. He shares with the reader several vignettes of noted gifted
achievers and how they overcame their limitations imbued by our culture, the
educational system and personal beliefs. He then guides one through a series
of topics that include Thinking Differently, Beyond Imagining, In The Zone,
Find Your Tribe, For Love or Money and more.

If you find yourself pondering your next steps and envious of those who make
a living doing work they love, then this is an excellent resource for your
searching soul.

Other Offerings - Share Yours
Got a book you'd like to share with others and lead in discussion? It's a
great way to contribute, add value and get known. Provide the story line on
the book and submit it to Greg Taylor at
gtaylor@excelsiorsp.com for
discussion, coordination and promotion.

Feature Articles

Have an article to contribute? We welcome your contributions. Make a
difference. Share a story. Submit it to
newsletter@augustgroup.org.

Thursday, June 4, 2009R. Thomas Flynn Campus CenterMonroe Community College

Please come to a meeting at the Bagel Bin, Wednesday, March 4th at 8:30 a.m.
Bring your target companies w/contact information if possible, enthusiasm,
and take a step to help the companies within the Rochester area achieve
their goals while likely improving your opportunities.